The 6-foot-11 center comes to UF from Washington State
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida men’s basketball added 6-foot-11 rising sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu to its 2024 transfer class on Thursday.
After playing his freshman season at Washington State, Chinyelu (pronounced chin-YAY-loo) becomes the second transfer to sign with UF this offseason, alongside forward Sam Alexis of Chattanooga. The duo helps the Gators reload their frontcourt after posting the third-highest offensive rebounding average in the nation last season.
Chinyelu averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game in 35 appearances with 12 starts for WSU in 2023-24. He tallied six double-figure scoring performances, four double-figure rebounding games and a key double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Cougars’ win at fourth-ranked Arizona. He also had eight games with at least three blocked shots.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reuben into our basketball family here at Florida,” head coach Todd Golden said. “He is an ultra-talented young man who fits into the culture of our program seamlessly. He has fantastic tools on both the offensive and defensive end, and we expect him to make a big jump across the board as he enters his second collegiate season.”
A native of Enugu Agidi, Nigeria, Chinyelu attended the NCA Academy Africa in Senegal and participated in the 2022 NBA Academy games, where he led NBA Academy Africa to a first-place finish. Chinyelu also played for Mozambique’s CFV in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as part of an initiative to include one NBA Academy Africa player on each team.
Chinyelu also brings international experience, helping Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 FIBA U16 African Championship while averaging 12.3 rebounds and 17.6 rebounds. Chinyelu competed with the Nigerian Senior National Team in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers.
Florida’s incoming 2024 class now includes transfers Chinyelu and Alexis (Chattanooga) along with freshman guard Isaiah Brown.
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